Noology Read Online Free PDF

against me from the outside.
    “Let me by!” I protest.
    “For a price,” he retorts, closing his
eyes and puckering full lips. I place my hands on his chest, stretch up towards
his face, and violently push him aside in one fell swoop. Giggling maniacally I
glance around just in time to see his shocked face morph into a mischievous
grin.
    Inside the familiar compound, we regain a
semblance of composure and amble along the hallway to our respective rooms. I
am beginning to adjust to the racing melody of my heart and the buzzing pouring
through my body. Regrettably, it is time to test the widow’s web in a more
productive setting. Reaching my bedroom door, I mumble a quick goodbye to Tate
before entering the familiar space.
    I am too jittery to go to the study, so I
remove a textbook from my lopsided bookshelf and sit on the edge of my decrepit
bed. I take one deep breath to steady my system before immersing myself in
review.       

 
    The world has been blanketed by darkness
for a few hours before restlessness finally carries me beyond the confines of
my room and into the narrow hall. I have been awake for three continuous days
now because of the widow’s web. On the positive side, I have completed all of
my readings, have stayed awake in all of my lectures and labs, and have even
had an opportunity to begin studying for my SMART’s despite the fact that they
are still six months away. On the negative side, I am mentally exhausted yet
physically unable to rest. Every time I close my eyes, the relentless quivering
of my heart keeps me from sinking into the welcoming arms of dreamlands that
continue to elude me.  
    I stroll down the corridor, biding my
time until the first rays of golden light streak across the sky at dawn.
Finally, I reach the kitchen and begin opening the first cabinet door I see as
it hangs askew, attached by only one rusted hinge. Just as I am stretching
towards the small wilted celery stalks hiding in the recesses of the wooden
cupboard, the squeak of a depressed floorboard causes me to withdraw rapidly
and swivel in place. Fear is already blooming in my chest when I see the
familiar face of Tate as he crosses the threshold. Unfortunately spinning also
heightens all emotional responses, and I have been battling my overactive
fight-or-flight reflexes the past three days.
    “God, you scared the hell out of me!” I
exclaim.
    “Good. I like to keep you on your toes,”
he responds, smirking in amusement.
    “What are you up to, other than bothering
me?”
    “Can’t sleep. You?”
    “Same. I haven’t slept a wink in days. I
am starting to worry I may never achieve the blissful state of REM sleep ever
again.”
    “Don’t be so dramatic.” Tate rolls his
eyes and feigns impatience with my concerns. He beckons to me with his hand, a
conspiratorial look crossing his face. He whispers softly, “Although, I hear
after the first few days you begin to lose control over your body and your
entire face will break out in hives.”
    I gasp in terror before a smile shatters
his mask of false sincerity to reveal his cheap trick. I punch his arm in mock
fury and stick my tongue out to express my displeasure.
    “Let’s go to the garden,” Tate pleads in
hushed tones, kidnapping my hand in his own.
    “Why would I do that after you just
embarrassed me with your immature games? I think you need to go alone.”
    Tate gets down on one knee, whining,
“Avelyn, from the bottom of my shallow heart I am truly truly sorry. Would you
please grace me with your presence? If you decline, I am afraid I may not be
able to go on.”
    “Get up you ham. Don’t think that just
because you bat your curly lashes, you can wrap me around your little finger. Save
your charm for someone else. But, I guess I’ll come. Just this once.”
    We take off down the hall towards my
room, but retreat into a small alcove before we reach its door. Tate bursts
through a glass door labeled “Emrgecy Ex” in scrawled red lettering,